It's that time of year where an owner's fancy turns to firing the coach: NBA Insider

Cleveland Plain Dealer | Apr 7

It's an anxious time of year in the NBA.

For some teams, the end of the season brings the pressure of the playoffs. For others, like the Cavaliers, there may be even more pressure on coaches who failed to get their teams into the postseason.

Much attention has been paid lately to the status of Cavs coach Byron Scott as his team has stumbled down the stretch. There have been questions about the squad's overall preparation as well as Scott's decision-making. Fans and critics are pointing to his 63-160 record in his three injury-riddled seasons with the team.

It's a scene being played out in at least six, and perhaps as many as 10, other NBA cities, and the only reason it's not a question in places like Orlando and Charlotte is that those lottery-bound teams changed coaches before this season.

Counting Cleveland, there are probably at least six Eastern franchises with uncertain coaching futures. That includes Brooklyn, where P.J. Carlesimo has done a tremendous job after taking over for the fired Avery Johnson earlier this season. He is still listed as interim coach, as is former Cavs assistant Jim Boylan, who replaced Scott Skiles in Milwaukee and has the Bucks on the verge of a playoff spot.

It's not clear yet whether that will be enough for either to retain their positions. Perhaps how their teams perform in the playoffs will make those decisions clearer.

But Doug Collins in Philadelphia and Dwane Casey in Toronto don't have the playoffs to prolong their tenures. (Neither does former Cavs coach Randy Wittman, but his job seems safe in Washington.)

The Sixers struggled through a disappointing season after remaking their team by trading for Andrew Bynum in an effort to become championship contenders. When Bynum's recurring knee problems prevented him from playing even one game with the Sixers, the team couldn't cope and never contended. Similarly in Toronto, the big mid-season trade for Rudy Gay seemed to jolt the team awake, but it too has fallen back among the also-rans.